Building Western New York Fall/Winter 2023

Page 44

Long vacant former piano keys factory tunes up for new life

The former Wood & Brooks piano-key factory will be anchored by 55 market-rate apartments and commercial space that will include the region’s first construction industry-focused co-working space along with a cigar lounge and other planned amenities.

Wood & Brooks project on pace for 2024 opening BY JAMES FINK

T

ucked into a Town of

six-story, 98,370-square-foot building

“I’m definitely getting a master’s

Tonawanda

industrial

at 2101 Kenmore Avenue brought back

degree [in development],” Wopperer

neighborhood, and one

to life. The former Wood & Brooks pi-

said. “There has been a huge learning

that borders the City

ano-key factory will be anchored by 55

process with this project.”

of

Riverside/

market-rate apartments and commer-

One of the oldest and most storied

Black Rock hamlets, is a complex that’s

cial space that will include the region’s

buildings in the Town of Tonawanda,

steeped in history. And, after sitting

first

industry-focused

the structure dates back to 1902 when

mostly vacant and underutilized for

co-working space along with a cigar

it was developed by the Wood and

decades, the building is in the early

lounge and other planned amenities.

Brooks Co., who manufactured piano

Buffalo’s

stages of a $23.1-million redevelopment phoenix that is being lauded for its vision and positive impact on the neighborhood.

construction

“It is definitely a nerve-wracking process,” Wopperer said. For Wopperer, this is his first foray

keys and parts for the instrument. The complex was developed during a 14year period between 1902 and 1916.

into the development world. He is

“It is really a series of additions that

Spearheaded by Michael Wopperer,

tackling a project on a building that has

were built during that time period,”

vice president of Frontier Insulation

been owned by his family’s company

Wopperer said.

Contractors, the project will see the

since 1972.

44

Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY, Inc.

At its peak in 1913, the company had


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